Saronic Technologies, Austin, Texas, and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the adoption of autonomous technologies for the maritime industry.
The agreement, announced Aug. 15, creates a framework for ABS and Saronic to work together on certification of Saronic’s autonomous capabilities and vessel classification for its autonomous surface vessels (ASVs), the companies said. According to Saronic, its autonomy stack is deployed across a family of ASVs designed for both defense and commercial use. ABS will review and evaluate Saronic’s larger vessels against safety, reliability, and performance standards as part of the process.
Saronic said the company will also contribute to updates of ABS requirements for ASVs based on technological advancements. The collaboration will combine Saronic’s production of ASVs at scale with ABS’s role in developing and maintaining standards for marine and offshore safety, the companies said.
“Through this agreement, we look forward to collaborating with ABS to contribute our experience and expertise to inform the development of industry standards for this emerging class of vessels, while ensuring our technology and platforms meet a high bar for safety, reliability, and efficiency,” said Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic.
ABS said the partnership aligns with its mission to support innovation in autonomy. “Advancing autonomous technologies and uncrewed systems unlocks safer, more efficient operations across the maritime sector. We are delighted to work together with Saronic to foster innovation in this space, supporting cutting-edge solutions to redefine what’s possible for maritime operations worldwide,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO.
Saronic said the collaboration positions both organizations to shape the next generation of standards for autonomous maritime systems while helping validate its growing fleet of ASVs. ABS said the effort underscores its role as a leading provider of technical support for autonomous and remote-controlled technologies across the marine and offshore industries.
